Chicago

Questions about bike hire abroad and everything light bike related. No off-topic chat please

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JohnnyHanel
Posts: 27
Joined: Tue Nov 24, 2015 8:57 pm

by JohnnyHanel

Are the any Chicago locals that have a Strava route they'd recommend? I'll be there in couple weeks for 3-4 days. I'll be near downtown, but i'm down to ride some miles for a good route. I did some looking on Strava & seems like theres nothing as far as elevation goes. Are there any decent hills to do repeats on? Anything route and/or hill segment would be appreciated!

by Weenie


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jfranci3
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Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2016 5:21 pm

by jfranci3

JohnnyHanel wrote:Are the any Chicago locals that have a Strava route they'd recommend? I'll be there in couple weeks for 3-4 days. I'll be near downtown, but i'm down to ride some miles for a good route. I did some looking on Strava & seems like theres nothing as far as elevation goes. Are there any decent hills to do repeats on? Anything route and/or hill segment would be appreciated!

Chicago is flat. I just looked at my city rides - 50ft in 30miles. I've seen 9ft over 60mi.

Best short ride from downtown is up and down the lake front trail.

Best longer ride is north through Evanston to Sheridan rd. (al la this random strava ride https://www.strava.com/activities/1118452071 , https://www.strava.com/activities/998879107) Green bay road is popular too. If you want a longer ride, look at the North Shore Century Route. Riding through Chicago isn't bad, take Milwaukee to Damen , then Damen North. Evanston is not bike friendly, so note the best route. When you're on Sheridan, it is much easier.

If you want hills... You'll need to drive / metra train it out to Barrington. The Rapha Club in Wicker Park can give you a route they use or you can string one together by looking at segments in Strava, then noting other's routes.

If you're on the weekend, maybe try to hit one of Johnny SProckets rides or another bike shop's. http://halfacrecycling.org/rides/

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prendrefeu
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by prendrefeu

JohnnyHanel wrote:Are the any Chicago locals that have a Strava route they'd recommend? I'll be there in couple weeks for 3-4 days. I'll be near downtown, but i'm down to ride some miles for a good route. I did some looking on Strava & seems like theres nothing as far as elevation goes. Are there any decent hills to do repeats on? Anything route and/or hill segment would be appreciated!


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JohnnyHanel
Posts: 27
Joined: Tue Nov 24, 2015 8:57 pm

by JohnnyHanel

jfranci3 wrote:Chicago is flat. I just looked at my city rides - 50ft in 30miles. I've seen 9ft over 60mi.

Best short ride from downtown is up and down the lake front trail.

Best longer ride is north through Evanston to Sheridan rd. (al la this random strava ride https://www.strava.com/activities/1118452071 , https://www.strava.com/activities/998879107) Green bay road is popular too. If you want a longer ride, look at the North Shore Century Route. Riding through Chicago isn't bad, take Milwaukee to Damen , then Damen North. Evanston is not bike friendly, so note the best route. When you're on Sheridan, it is much easier.

If you want hills... You'll need to drive / metra train it out to Barrington. The Rapha Club in Wicker Park can give you a route they use or you can string one together by looking at segments in Strava, then noting other's routes.

If you're on the weekend, maybe try to hit one of Johnny SProckets rides or another bike shop's. http://halfacrecycling.org/rides/


Thanks a lot! I'll check those rides out right now.

jfranci3
Posts: 1572
Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2016 5:21 pm

by jfranci3

For tourism / bike riding:
1) Lake front ride (I think you can make 25mi of it)
2) Rent a DIVY bike, ride up Milwaukee to Wicker Park, on the "606" "Bloomingdale" then up to Andersonville, and back down Clark to the city center https://goo.gl/maps/vCC8JiAhft22 . This would also be a great way to do a lot of eating and drinking.

JohnnyHanel
Posts: 27
Joined: Tue Nov 24, 2015 8:57 pm

by JohnnyHanel

jfranci3 wrote:For tourism / bike riding:
1) Lake front ride (I think you can make 25mi of it)
2) Rent a DIVY bike, ride up Milwaukee to Wicker Park, on the "606" "Bloomingdale" then up to Andersonville, and back down Clark to the city center https://goo.gl/maps/vCC8JiAhft22 . This would also be a great way to do a lot of eating and drinking.



thanks! ya, it would be cool to do a sort of touristy ride as well. i've been to chicago many many times before, but never on bike. so it would be fun to do a ride like that. thanks again! i'll look up those route right now

jfranci3
Posts: 1572
Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2016 5:21 pm

by jfranci3

Also, if you've got a CX/ gravel bike, the Des Plaines trail is great if it has been dry. Unless it has been super dry, you need 32c+ tires. 35c+ tires are better for the smooth but soft surface.

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wpccrunner
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by wpccrunner

going to be there for the marathon?

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